Literacy Minnesota stands in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.  

This week’s murders in Atlanta brought a new level of horror and visibility to the recent uptick in anti-Asian violence in the United States. Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 150% in 2020, a trend fueled by disinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic; the former presidential administration’s racist rhetoric; and a long history of anti-Asian racism and U.S. imperialism in Asia, all stemming from a system of white supremacy.  

Additionally, this act of white violence targeted Asian women specifically. The history of racism against Asian American women occurs at the intersection of gender, xenophobia and race and is based off of harmful tropes perpetuated by the media and society. 

We want to recognize the fear and trauma our AAPI colleagues, students and stakeholders may be experiencing in this moment. If you identify as AAPI or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color), we encourage you to prioritize self care. Slow down or take time off, connect with your communities and do whatever helps you feel grounded. 

As educators, citizens and lifelong learners, we at Literacy Minnesota recognize that we have a responsibility to combat disinformation; create safe and respectful learning environments for people of all backgrounds; learn and understand the historical context of these incidents; and stand in solidarity with our AAPI community members to fight anti-Asian racism.  

Visit our Educator Resources Library to find tools for discussing racism in the classroom, including: 

• Classroom Resources for Talking about Racism. 

• Representation Matters: Diversity in Children’s Books. 

• Trauma-informed Crisis Education. 

• And more. 

Additional resources for learning and action: 

• How to support Asian American colleagues amid the recent wave of anti-Asian violence (Jennifer Liu, CNBC). 

• Statement from Asian Americans Advancing Justice and sign-on form for a community-centered response. 

• How to Help Fight Anti-Asian Violence (Cady Lang, TIME Magazine). 

Thank you for your commitment to working toward a more just and equitable society.  

Be safe and be well,  

Eric Nesheim, Executive Director